TOP 5 DOG HEALTH QUERIES ANSWERED BY A LEADING VET

Dr Nick Thompson BSc (Vet Sci) Hons, BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS is a leading holistic vet who combines nutrition, complementary therapies and modern veterinary medicine to tackle the root causes of dog health issues. Founder of The Holistic Vet practice and co-founder of Raw Pet Medics, he is a passionate advocate for canine wellness and natural, balanced care.

With his wealth of knowledge and experience, we asked Dr Nick to share his thoughts on the questions you submitted. Here are his expert answers to your top five dog health queries.

Dr Nick’s Answer:

You have done the right thing by reducing Luna’s food.

Going from 250g to 200g a day is a sensible first step. For Cockapoos, the usual guide is 2–3% of their ideal body weight, which for Luna at 10.4kg would be around 208–312g daily. At 200g a day you are feeding her about 1.8% of her current weight, which supports safe, gradual weight loss for dogs.

A 2019 Journal of Animal Science study suggests that reducing calories by 10–20% typically results in 1–2% body weight loss per week, so you are right on track (1).

Here are the key things to focus on:

• Monitor her weight: Weigh Luna weekly and assess her body condition score. You should be able to feel her ribs and see a clear waistline. Aim for 0.1–0.2 kg of weight loss per week. If you do not see progress after a month, reduce further to 180g daily (90g twice daily), but do consult your vet first.
• Check the fat content: ProDog’s exotic mixes vary in fat levels. If you are feeding higher-fat proteins such as lamb, switch to lower fat raw dog food for a while. A 2020 Veterinary Medicine International study supports the role of lower-fat diets in effective canine weight management (2).
• Watch the extras: Treats count too. Either cut them out altogether or deduct their calories from Luna’s daily allowance. For example, if she has 10g of treats, feed 190g of raw instead of 200g.
• Exercise: Keep her activity levels up with 30–60 minutes of walks or play each day. Adding in a few short sessions of fetch is a great way to burn extra calories without needing longer walks.
• Stay with ProDog Raw: There is no need to change foods. ProDog’s raw dog food is balanced, complete and uses novel proteins that are particularly good for dogs with sensitivities. Switching could upset her digestion unnecessarily.

Track Luna’s progress for 4–6 weeks and then reassess. You are already on the right path, and with consistency she should be back to her ideal weight before long.

Dr Nick’s Answer:

It is great to hear your Cockapoo is thriving on ProDog Raw. Their 80-10-10 raw dog food (80% meat, 10% bone, 10% offal) delivers the core building blocks of a natural canine diet, rich in high-quality proteins, essential fats and naturally occurring micronutrients, including taurine. A 2020 Journal of Animal Science study confirmed that this ratio supports good digestion and coat health in healthy dogs (3). If your dog has steady energy, a healthy weight and firm stools, then you can be confident the diet is doing its job.

That said, there are a few optional extras that can give an additional health boost:

• Vegetables and fruits: Adding 5–10% vegetables or fruit can be helpful. Pureed spinach or a handful of blueberries are rich in antioxidants, and a 2018 Animals study linked them to reduced oxidative stress in dogs (4).
• Fish oil: A teaspoon per 10kg of bodyweight can improve skin, coat and heart health. This is supported by a 2017 Veterinary Dermatology study showing the benefits of omega-3s.
• Bone broth: One to two tablespoons of Bone Broth daily can provide collagen for joint and gut support. A 2021 Animals study highlighted the positive effects of collagen-rich diets (5).
• ProDog Boost: This multivitamin supplement for dogs is a good all-round supplement if you want added peace of mind about micronutrients.

The most important thing is variety. Rotating proteins such as chicken, beef, venison and fish help prevent imbalances and reduces the risk of allergies over time, as ProDog’s canine nutritionist, Alison Frost, recommends.

If you decide not to add extras, that is not harmful as long as you are feeding the 80-10-10 mix and your dog is in good health. The main risk comes from feeding only a single protein long-term, which can lead to gaps in nutrition. This is why protein rotation is key. A routine vet check-up and bloodwork every 12–24 months is also a wise idea to ensure everything stays in balance.

So, the short answer is: ProDog Raw’s 80-10-10 mix is safe on its own but carefully chosen additions can give your dog extra long-term health benefits.

Dr Nick’s Answer:

You are doing a fantastic job already. A loss of just over 1 kg in a month is exactly what we want to see, since safe weight loss should be around 1–2% of body weight per week. A 2019 Journal of Animal Science study supports this approach, showing that gradual calorie reductions of 10–20% are effective and safe for dogs (1). Cutting back to half a pack, however, may be a little too low, as that risks not only reducing calories but also short-changing her on vital protein, vitamins and minerals.

Here is what I recommend:

• Feeding amount: For a Rough Collie at an ideal weight of around 20–25 kg, the standard guide is 2–3% of ideal weight per day, which works out at about 400–600g. For weight loss, aim closer to 350–400g daily. Half a pack is roughly 300g, which is likely too low. Instead, try 3/5 of a pack, about 360g, and monitor her progress.
• Lower-fat choices: After neutering, many dogs are more prone to weight gain. This is usually due to changes in metabolism and appetite. A 2021 Veterinary Clinics of North America study highlights that higher fat levels can increase appetite in some dogs (6). So, instead of reducing protein, I suggest reducing fat. Ask ProDog to adjust your variety box to the lower fat raw dog food bundle which includes leaner proteins like turkey, chicken and rabbit, and fewer higher-fat options like beef and lamb.
• Treats: Biscuits really are not helping here, as the carbs will quickly add calories and promote weight gain. Cut them out altogether and, if you want to give her something, try raw vegetables such as carrot sticks or lean protein-based treats.
• Exercise: Boosting activity will help enormously. Aim for 60–90 minutes of walking and play daily. It is a safer way to burn calories than reducing food too drastically.

Want expert guidance tailored to your dog? Whether it’s weight loss, balanced nutrition plans, or questions about supplementing, our Lead Canine Nutritionist, Alison Frost, is here to help.

Dr Nick’s Answer:

Yes, you can absolutely continue raw feeding, but it does need some careful adjustments. A 2020 Frontiers in Veterinary Science study showed that low-fat raw diets can be effective in managing dog pancreatitis while avoiding the additives and fillers often found in processed foods (7).

The key is to choose lean, easily digestible proteins that put less strain on the pancreas:

• Turkey: Very lean at around 2–3% fat and gentle on the digestive system.
• White fish (e.g., cod, haddock): Extremely low in fat (1–2%) and rich in omega-3s, which support inflammation control, as shown in a 2017 Veterinary Research study (8).
• Chicken (skinless): Lean at around 4% fat and generally very digestible.
• Avoid: High-fat proteins such as beef or lamb, which can be 10–15% fat and often trigger flare-ups.

Feeding tips:

• Use ProDog’s lower fat options, or source fresh turkey and white fish where possible.
• Feed smaller, more frequent meals (3–4 times a day) to ease the load on the pancreas.
• Add a little bone broth (low-fat) for gut and joint support, as supported by a 2021 Animals study (5).
• Avoid raw bones during flare-ups, as they can be harder to digest.

Supplements:

I often recommend gut-soothing support alongside diet changes. Slippery elm (about 1 teaspoon per 20 kg daily) can help protect and calm the gut lining, as shown in a 2019 Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology study (9).

Digestive enzymes are also helpful. I recommend ProDog’s Digest, an all-in-one gut health supplement for dogs that contains prebiotic fibres and digestive enzymes along with gut soothing, science backed ingredients such as: slippery elm, chamomile and marshmallow root.

Also check out Life Extension’s ‘Super Digestive Enzymes’ and ‘Adored Beast Gut Soothe’ with pre- and probiotics to support recovery.

Vet monitoring:

It’s important to keep working with your vet. Regular bloodwork, including lipase and cTLI levels, helps track how well the pancreas is coping. If symptoms persist, consult a holistic vet to rule out conditions like IBD, which can sometimes overlap with or mimic pancreatitis.

A note of caution:

If your dog develops acute symptoms such as vomiting or lethargy, get veterinary help straight away.

So yes, you can continue with raw feeding — just keep it very lean, very digestible, and closely monitored.

Dr Nick’s Answer:

Allergies can be tricky, especially in young dogs, but raw feeding can absolutely help if you take the right approach. Hydrolysed diets like ProPlan work by breaking proteins into smaller fragments so the immune system does not react to them. A 2020 Veterinary Dermatology study found that raw feeding can achieve similar results by carefully selecting novel proteins that the dog has never eaten before (10).

Protein choices:

Dalmatians are prone to reacting to common proteins like chicken or beef, so I would start with an alternative to the more common choice, something low allergen. Good options include:

• Venison: A lean, novel protein available in ProDog’s Exotic Range, specially developed as a hypoallergenic raw dog food option.
• Rabbit: Hypoallergenic and rarely causes reactions.
• Fish (e.g., sardines): Rich in omega-3s, which reduce skin inflammation. A 2017 Veterinary Dermatology study confirmed the anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3s.
  Other options include wild boar, goat, goose, and duck

Elimination diet:

The gold standard for allergy management is an elimination diet. Start with just one novel protein (for example, venison only) and feed it exclusively for 2–4 weeks. For a 6-month-old Dalmatian, that means around 2–3% of body weight daily, which is roughly 200–300g. During this time, avoid all treats and extras that might contain other proteins.

Supplements:

• Fish oil: About 1 teaspoon per 10 kg of body weight daily can help reduce inflammation. Just make sure fish itself is not one of the triggers.
  Quercetin: Sometimes called “nature’s antihistamine,” quercetin can help calm allergic reactions. The dose is around 5 mg per kg daily (vet-approved).

ProDog’s Protect, is an effective allergy supplement for dogs. Combining quercetin with astragalus root, nettle leaf, and turmeric with black pepper, amongst other science-backed ingredients.

Skin support:

You can soothe irritated skin from the outside too. Adding a tablespoon of cooled chamomile tea daily has been shown to help reduce skin irritation, according to a 2021 Veterinary Medicine International study (11).

Other considerations:

• Work closely with your vet to monitor progress and, if necessary, confirm the allergy with skin tests.
• You can avoid ProPlan if raw feeding is working, but it does remain an option if symptoms do not improve.
• Weekly baths with a hypoallergenic shampoo can help reduce environmental allergens. I often recommend Malabeze Medicated Shampoo.

With patience, careful protein selection, and the right supplements, you should be able to manage your Dalmatian’s allergies without needing to resort to processed foods.

Do you have questions around canine nutrition? The team at ProDog are on hand to help with FREE 1-1 specialist advice from our dedicated Canine Nutritionist, Alison Frost. You can also find a wealth of information in our handy guides Beginners Guide to Raw Feeding and The Benefits of Raw Feeding Your Dog.